Things To Do

Your experience at the fort is designed to be a self-directed one. Understanding that everyone has different interests, schedules, and abilities, we have created the following menu of opportunities to help you experience the park in a variety of ways.

 

Download the Park App!

 

Explore the Fortress

Walk through the fort's casements and take in the exhibits you'll find there. Available brochures and maps will guide you around the site. To access the self-guided tour on your device, download Castillo's park app on Android and iOS.

 

Immerse Yourself

Get a new perspective using the virtual tour. Using the virtual tour on your visit allows you to read the exhibits without standing in line, watch the ranger videos in the rooms they were filmed, and view the 3D models of the well, Hot Shot Furnace, and artillery. It will also provide you with virtual access to closed areas (e.g., the gun deck closes during lightning storms) or to an inaccessible area (e.g., there is no elevator to the gun deck). 

 

Learn More

Watch videos on your device or in the fort's Theater Room. There are several short videos on the fort's long and fascinating history.

 

Be Social

Connect with us online! Chat with rangers and followers, get the latest updates, and find digital resources on Facebook. Capture and share moments on Instagram. Discover educational videos on our YouTube channel. 

 

Become a Junior Ranger

Earn a badge by completing the Junior Ranger program. Download the materials in advance, ask staff for a book upon arrival, or become a Virtual Ranger. 

 

Be Inspired

Relax and reflect. Take in the best view of the city from the gun deck. The fort's green offers a large recreation area perfect for a picnic or a shady nap.

 

COVID-19 Safety Alert: Please Keep a Safe Distance

We are more than happy to answer your questions, but please maintain a physical distance of 6 feet or more. CDC guidance currently prevents us from offering the ranger programs or weapons demonstrations described below that gather crowds together. Please consider using our app, virtual tour, videos, and social media platforms to connect with the park's rich history and culture.

 

Engage with Park Rangers

Rangers and volunteers are eager to answer your questions and provide interpretive opportunities throughout the day on the history and culture of the park. There are formal presentations where you can listen to a thematic program, that have a start/end time, and that usually last between 15-30 minutes long. There are ongoing informal stations where you can engage firsthand with cultural objects, ask your burning questions, and spend as little or as much time as you would like. Program topics, locations, and times vary on the season, weather, and visitation. Please ask the staff upon arrival or look for the sandwich board in the courtyard area for the upcoming opportunities.

 

Experience Living History

There are rangers and volunteers in period dress around the fort. They will pose for pictures, answer your questions, and share stories on the life and experiences of the colonists who dwelt here.

 

Historic Weapon Demonstrations

Please check with staff upon arrival, but cannon or musket firings usually take place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 10:30, 11:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, weather and staff permitting. If you are preparing for your visit or visiting on a weekday, you may enjoy our video below. 

 

Duration:

6 minutes, 8 seconds

Join us on the Castillo's gun deck and imagine what firing a cannon would be like in the 1740s.

 

Look Up!

Even though the Castillo is nestled in downtown St. Augustine, some celestial objects are bright enough to see. The International Space Station is one of them.

 

Accessibility

Click here to learn more.